European Team for the Pony Dressage Championships announced

Anne Marie Dunphy, Horse Sport Ireland’s Pony High Performance Manager, has selected the Pony Dressage team for the 2016 European Championships taking place in Aarhus Vilhelmsborg, Denmark from 17th to 21st August 2016.

The Pony Dressage team, in alphabetical order, is as follows:

• Laura Dennehy (16) from Cork riding Julie Lockey’s Ella
• Tara Hayes (14) from Kildare riding Fiona Hayes’s Bantiss Holy Joe
• Robyn O’Neill (14) from Limerick riding Kathryn Taylor’s Belsasser
• Emily Kate Robinson (16) from Waterford riding Elisabeth Ayn’s Crown Imagine or Geraldine Robinson’s Tisrara Hill (ISH)

Pony Dressage High Performance Manager, Anne Marie Dunphy, said; “I am delighted that we are in a position to field a dressage team for these championships for the third consecutive year, highlighting the ongoing development of the HSI High Performance Pony Dressage Program. Full credit is due to all of the athletes on the program and their parents whose hard work and commitment continue to raise the standard of youth dressage in Ireland.  The team members, three of whom are making their European Championship debut, achieved the qualification criteria comfortably and have shown steady improvement throughout the season. I am looking forward to seeing them compete in Vilhelmsborg”.

The Pony Dressage riders will compete for both team and individual European medals at the Danish venue, as well as medals for the individual freestyle competition. Rounds 1 and 2 of the team competition will take place on the first and second days of the Championships, while rounds 1 and 2 for the individual competition will follow on the Friday and the Saturday. The top 18 riders from Saturday’s class will qualify for Sunday’s freestyle competition.

Horse Sport Ireland acknowledges the support of Team Ireland Equestrian Official Sponsors and Suppliers – Berney Brothers, Kilcullen; Comfybed; Dubarry Ireland; Glanbia GAIN Horse Feeds; Horseware; Charles Owen and TRM.